Democrats pioneer Evans dies

The Australian Democrats co-founder Jack Evans has died of cancer at the age of 80.

Mr Evans had been battling the disease for some time and passed away at his home in Perth this morning.

He formed the Democrats with Don Chipp in 1977 and served as a Senator for Western Australia for two years.

Former WA Democrats Senator Andrew Murray has described Mr Evans' death as the end of a political era.

"It is a sad day for the Democrats and certainly a sad day for West Australia, and perhaps Australia too, because Jack was a symbol of a political era where there was great hope in what I'd describe as a small liberal revival," he said.

"[He was] a value driven person, intensely interested in policy and people, very lively, happy, committed and a sort of determined character, but not dogmatic."

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